3 Year Blog Anniversary – Win an iPod!

One week from today makes a whopping 3 years since I started this fine blog. I originally did it because I was bored at work and I wanted to dispense some financial advice after reading so much during my free time.

Over the past 3 years, I’ve learned a lot about personal finance, a lot about blogging, and a lot about myself. I also learned that anybody can write, but it takes readers to make it really special.

As a big thank you, I’m going to give away an iPod I got for work to one lucky reader! You know, because my company has the best perks. It’s still in its box and plastic wrapping, but the truth is I have an iPhone and don’t need another iPod.

The rules for entering are really simple (described below), and the easiest way to enter is by answering this question:

The best piece of financial advice I have ever gotten was to have 20% of my paycheck (after RRSP deductions) direct-deposited into a separate savings account. I got used to taking care of business and handling daily affairs with the remaining (80%) money. Every 4 months I would invest the total of this separate account for the ‘long term’.

The best piece of financial advice I have ever gotten was not to impulse shop. Walk away and think about purchasing something for at least a day and then decide if you really need or want the item. This has saved me alot of money!

I have 2 best pieces of financial advice I’ve been given. The first one may be too radical for this blog, but here goes: Tithe. Not from obligation, but as a grateful believer in Jesus, I tithe. SOmeone told me when I was a young fellow that if I tithed, I couldn’t outgive God. It was true, although defying fiscal laws, I can honestly say that when I tithe, I am blessed by things of a financial nature more than the amount that I tithe. And not so much when I do not. Weird, but true.

Advise #2: An old crusty Master Sergeant told me that I should save 1/2 of all raises I got during the course of my military career, and enjoy the other 1/2. Unfortunately, I did not follow that advice, but became a crusty old Master Sergeant that wished he had the 1.4 million dollars like the old guy who gave me the advice ended up with!

The best advice I got was from my dad….and its to keep a monthly budget! And..keep it up! Put everything into categories and have monthly amounts for each category….has helped so much to see where you spend your money…and save for those larger things that come your way!